Dorothy Howard Folklore and Education Prize Nominations Due August 31

Dorothy Howard (1902-1996) grew up in the Progressive Era, receiving a teaching degree from the North Texas Normal College (now the University of North Texas) in 1923. During her career as a teacher and principal in Texas, New York, and New Jersey, Howard integrated folklore into her curriculum by having students collect and study playground chants and jingles as a way of introducing them to poetry; research their names and their meanings to study spelling; and write about such traditions as ravioli making to develop their writing skills. Howard's interest in children's folklore and education enabled her to bridge a gap between the Victorian "armchair" study of children's culture with the field-based studies that folklorists conduct today. In 1938 she received her doctorate in education with a study of games that combined these two styles of study. Her pioneering work shows us that folklore can be used in the curriculum in a way that is rich and meaningful. The Dorothy Howard Prize honors both Howard and those who have followed her lead in folklore and education.

The prize competition is open to individuals and organizations whose work effectively encourages K-12 educators or students to use or study folklore and folkloristic approaches in all educational environments. Such works include but are not limited to curriculum materials, publications, audio and video recordings, multimedia publications, web sites, and exhibits. Works produced in the two calendar years prior to the annual AFS meeting are eligible.

Nominations should identify the author(s) or creator(s), publisher, and date of publication and describe why the nomination deserves consideration. Statements should not exceed three double-spaced pages. Anyone may nominate work by submitting a nomination statement plus three copies of the resource. In the case of web-based resources, send the url. In the case of particularly extensive or expensive materials (e.g., multimedia kits), a single copy may be submitted. Submissions will be evaluated on the basis of the following criteria:

Does the product add significantly to the body of folklore and education literature or resources?

Is the material appropriate for intended age groups and subject focus?

Do the materials have the potential to engage their intended audience fully?

The recipient of the 2015 Dorothy Howard Prize will be honored at the annual Folklore and Education section meeting during the American Folklore Society conference in Long Beach, California in October 2015.